Re: To update or not to update - that is the question *Vendor reply*

[Kilgore, Jason A.]

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** Vendor reply **

I would be sure to contact the microscope manufacturer first.

For our EVOS FL Auto and FL Auto 2.0 systems, for instance, a Windows update on the PC that comes with it will cause errors in the software, requiring a costly field service engineer visit and reimaging of the hard drive.  

Jason



Jason A. Kilgore
Technical Application Scientist
Molecular Probes / EVOS Tech Support
Life Sciences Solutions

Thermo Fisher Scientific
29851 Willow Creek Rd.
Eugene, OR  97402-9132
1-800-955-6288 then option 4, then option 6, then option 2.
Or dial direct at [phone]
[hidden email]
www.lifetechnologies.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Kurt Thorn
Sent: Friday, January 06, 2017 8:46 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: To update or not to update - that is the question

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Unlike many of the posters here, we've always regularly updated Windows on our machines. We have 8 systems, 7 of which run Windows 7, and one of which runs Windows XP (that one is not on the network). The systems run a mixture of NIS-Elements and Micro-manager (you can see them all at nic.ucsf.edu).  Over the ten years I've been doing this, I can only think of two or three times that we have had issues caused by a Windows update.  During that time we've also had a machine that had to be rebuilt due to virus infection, so I think the security trade-off is probably worth it.

In general, we've had many more computer problems due to hardware failures than to software failures.  We have to do all our own IT support, so I often feel like I'm running a small IT shop, with 16 computers to manage.

Kurt

On 1/5/2017 4:23 AM, Vaughan, Andrew wrote:

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>
> Dear All,
>
> This email relates to discussions I've had with Zeiss representatives in the UK, although it could just as easily apply to other microscope manufacturers. I have been looking for clear guidance on whether Windows updates should be installed on acquisition or analysis PCs. The people I have spoken to at Zeiss have different opinions on the matter, which indicates that Zeiss does not have a particular policy (or that not everyone knows it). I have been advised by some people to switch off updates completely because an update could interfere with the acquisition system. I have also been told that this advice refers to older AIM-based systems running Windows XP and is not relevant for new machines, which ship with Windows updates set to Automatic. I'd like to know if anyone else has had discussions like this with Zeiss or any other company and whether there is a consensus on in-house policies for keeping computers patched. It is likely that companies have region-specific advice since I have been told that warranties are more extensive in some regions compared to others.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Andrew Vaughan.
>

--
Kurt Thorn
Associate Professor
Director, Nikon Imaging Center
http://thornlab.ucsf.edu/
http://nic.ucsf.edu/blog/

[Tim D. Smith]

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On Fri, Jan 6, 2017 at 10:00 PM, CONFOCALMICROSCOPY automatic digest
system <[hidden email]> wrote:
> Date:    Fri, 6 Jan 2017 17:14:08 +0000
> From:    "Kilgore, Jason A." <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: To update or not to update - that is the question *Vendor reply*
>
> ** Vendor reply **
>
> I would be sure to contact the microscope manufacturer first.
>
> For our EVOS FL Auto and FL Auto 2.0 systems, for instance, a Windows update on the PC that comes with it will cause errors in the software, requiring a costly field service engineer visit and reimaging of the hard drive.

It is negligent to ship networkable devices that embed consumer
operating systems and break when they are updated. Please stop doing
it.

Tim